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John R. Sweney

1837 - 1899 Person Name: Jno. R. Sweney Composer of "[I have found the Savior precious]" in Songs of Faith and Hope John R. Sweney (1837-1899) was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and exhibited musical abilities at an early age. At nineteen he was studying with a German music teacher, leading a choir and glee club, and performing at children’s entertainments. By twenty-two he was teaching at a school in Dover, Delaware. Soon thereafter, he was put in charge of the band of the Third Delaware Regiment of the Union Army for the duration of the Civil War. After the war, he became Professor of Music at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, and director of Sweney’s Cornet Band. He eventually earned Bachelor and Doctor of Music degrees at the Academy. Sweney began composing church music in 1871 and became well-known as a leader of large congregations. His appreciators stated “Sweney knows how to make a congregation sing” and “He had great power in arousing multitudes.” He also became director of music for a large Sunday school at the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia of which John Wanamaker was superintendent (Wanamaker was the founder of the first major department store in Philadelphia). In addition to his prolific output of hymn melodies and other compositions, Sweney edited or co-edited about sixty song collections, many in collaboration with William J. Kirkpatrick. Sweney died on April 10, 1899, and his memorial was widely attended and included a eulogy by Wanamaker. Joe Hickerson from "Joe's Jottings #9" used by permission

Speros Demetrios Athans

1883 - 1969 Person Name: S. D. Athans Author of "¡Resucitó!" in Melodias Evangelicas para el Uso de las Iglesias Evangelicas de Habla Española en Todo el Mundo Speros Demetrios Athans was born 1883 in Turkey. Raised in the Greek Orthodox Church, Athans left home at age 15, after his father’s death. He spent two years on the island of Corfu, Greece, and two more in Egypt, then went to Great Britain, where he worked as a sailor. In 1903 he went to America, and during immigration processing, someone gave him a New Testament in Greek. A year later, he joined a Nazarene church in Chicago, Illinois. He then enrolled in a Bible school and university. While in school in California, he began to study Spanish and to work with the Latino community. In 1910 he decided to work in evangelism. In 1931, he joined the Methodist missionary work in Latin America, retiring in 1949. © The Cyber Hymnal™ (hymntime.com/tch)